Preparation of steroidal 21-phosphate derivatives



United States Patent PREPARATION OF STEROIDAL ZI-PHOSIPHATE DERIVATIVES Joseph Elks, London, and Gordon Hartley Phillipps, Greenford, England, assignors to Glaxo Laboratories Limited, Greenford, England, a British company No Drawing. Application November 18, 1958 Serial No. 774,578

Claims priority, application Great Britain November 19, 1957 20 Claims. (Cl. 260--397.45)

This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to the preparation of steroid derivatives.

It has been shown that the 21-phosphate primary esters of cortical steroids such as cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisone and prednisolone have valuable properties not possessed by the parent steroid or their 2l-acetate and similar acyloxy derivatives. In particular these 21- phosphate primary esters have the property (generally in the form of salts, e.g. of alkali metal), of being watersoluble thus enabling the steroid to be administered in aqueous solution.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved method for the production of 21-phosphates, including secondary and tertiary phosphates, of compounds of the pregnane and allopregnane series. For brevity We use the term compounds of the pregnane and allopregnane series not only to designate compounds in which the ring systems are saturated but also to include compounds having ring unsaturction such as pregnenes, allopregnenes, pregnadienes, etc.

It has now been found that these phosphates can conveniently be prepared by reacting the corresponding 21- halogeno or 2l-sulphonyloxy compound with a phosphoric acid (which may be partially esterified if it is desired to obtain a secondary or tertiary 21-phosphate), in the presence of an organic base, the reaction being conducted in solution in an inert solvent medium, preferably of high dielectric constant. Whilst the process according to the invention is suitable for the production of primary, secondary and tertiary phosphate esters it is particularly advantageous for use in the production of primary and secondary esters.

According to the invention, therefore, there is provided a process for the production of a 21-phosphate which may, if desired, be secondary or tertiary, of a compound of the pregnane or allopregnane series which comprises reacting the corresponding steroid 2l-halide of 21-sulphony1oxy compound with a phosphoric acid, preferably orthophosphoric acid or a partially esterified phosphoric acid in the presence of an organic base which has a pKa in Water of at least 7. The reaction is preferably conducted in solution in an inert solvent medium.

While the resultant phosphate has a free acidic hydroxyl group (he in the case of primary and secondary phosphates) the compound may be recovered as the free acid or as a salt thereof, e.g. alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or organic base salt.

The process according to the invention is of particular application in the preparation of the 2l-phosphate esters of steroids having a keto group in the 20-position and especially compounds having adreno-cortical activity, e.g. cortisone, prednisone, cortisol and prednisolone, as well as other analogues thereof such as the corresponding 6- and 9-halo compounds, 2- and 6-methyl compounds and/or 16-hydroxy, 16-acy1oxy or 16-alkyl compounds.

2,936,313 Patented May '10, 19

However the formation of 21-phosphate esters of steroids other than the adreno-cortical hormones may be of value, and for example by the process according to the invention one can readily prepare phosphate esters of steroidal anaesthetics e.g. 2l-hydroxy-pregnane-3z20- dione.

Thus, one may use as starting material a steroid 21- halide or Zl-sulphonyloxy compound having the general formula CHzZ- Z is a halogen atom or a sulphonyloxy group;

R is a hydrogen or halogen atom or an alkyl (e.g.

methyl, ethyl etc.) group;

R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl (e.g. methyl, ethyl etc.) group;

R is a hydrogen or a halogen atom;

R is a hydrogen or a hydroxy, acyloxy or alkyl R is a hydrogen or a hydroxy or acyloxy group;

X is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group or a ketonic oxygen atom, and

Y is a hydroxy or acyloxy group or a ketonic oxygen atom, and the corresponding A A A and A compounds, the hydrogen atom, if any, in the 5-position having the ccor (i-configuration.

where The process according to the invention may be used in the production of steroids having adreno-cortical or other physiological activity or in the production of inactive precursors of such steroids which may beconverted to an active steroid Zl-phosphate by suitable chemical or biochemical means after the introduction of the 2l-phosphate group. Thus, for example, one may start from a. 2l-halogeno or Zl-alkyl, aralkylor aryl-sulphonyloxy- 11,8: l7 1-dihydroxy-pregn-4-ene-3:ZO-dione and obtain the 2l-phosphate directly therefrom or, alternatively, one may use as starting material a 2l-halo or 2l-alkyl-, aralkylor aryl-sulphonyloxy-3fi:17a-dihydroxy-5ot-pregna- 11:20-dione such as 2l-bromo-3fl:17a-d-ihydroxy5a-pregna-11z20-dione, convert this .to the corresponding 21- phosphate and then by suitable chemical or biochemical means introduce A or A unsaturation and oxidise the 3-hydroxy group to confer the desired activity.

The phosphoric acid is advantageously used in a quantity in excess of that required to react with the steroid 2l-halide or -su1phonate. Thus it is convenient to use between 4 and 16 molecular equivalents of the acid per mol of the steroid. By varying the ratio of acid to steroid, compounds of different structure may be obtained. Thus when using a relatively high ratio of acid to steroid (e.g. 15:1) the process according to the invention yields a product which is predominantly a mono steroid phosphate. The use of lower proportions of acid to steroid (e.g. 4:1 or less) gives rise to increas ing proportions of bis-steroid phosphates. if the amount of the phosphoric acid used is increased to above 16 0 molecular equivalents per mol of steroid, the subsequent R is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic or aromatic group a d i R is an aliphatic or aromatic group.

R is preferably a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, hydroxy-alkyl, aryl or aralkyl or phenacyl group, and R is preferably an alkyl, hydroxylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl. or phenacyl group. The phosphoric acid may be used in a partially dehydrated form.

Certain of the secondary ZI-phosphates prepared according to the present process form the subject of applicants co-pending application Serial No. 774,580, filed on even date.

As stated above the organic base used in the present process must have a pKa in water of at least 7. In general, alkylamines especially trialkylamines are preferred, especially lower alkylamines, the volatility of which simplifies removal of the amine after the reaction is complete. Examples of bases which may be con veniently used in the present process are: isopropylamine, .diethylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-propylamine, piperidine, N-methylmorpholine, N-ethylpiperidine and triethanolamine.

The base is conveniently used in an amount of 1.0-2.0 mols per mol of phosphoric acid used.

Instead of using a separate base and a separate phosphoric acid or ester thereof one may use, if desired, a preformed salt of the desired base with the phosphoric acid or ester thereof.

The process according to the invention is preferably conducted in solution in an organic solvent. In choosing a suitable solvent, a solvent must hence be selected in which the phosphate salt of the base is soluble and for this purpose it will generally be necessary to use a solvent of high dielectric content, preferably above and advantageously above 30. The solubility of the base phosphates in various solvents does however vary and preliminary experiment should be conducted to select a suitable solvent and the quantity in which it is used for any particular reactants. Suitable solvents will generally be found among the following, namely, acetonitrile, methanol, N:N-dimethylformamide and dimethylsulphoxide.

The process according to the invention is conveniently carried out at temperatures within the range of 50 to 130 C.

The phosphate products obtained according to the invention may be recovered from the reaction mixture in any convenient way. Thus, for example, in the case of primary and secondary phosphates, the solvent may be removed by distillation and the aqueous solution of the product passed through a cation exchange column in the TH form to give a solution of the steroid hydrogen phosphate. Salts of the steroid phosphate may be obtained by neutralisation of the steroid hydrogen phosphate, obtained as described above, or by passing a solution of the crude reaction product through a cation exchange resin in the salt form. Where a volatile base is used in the reaction advantage should be taken of its volatility and an alternative and simplified method of isolating the steroid phosphate, which avoids the use of ion exchange resins, may be employed in which the reaction product after evaporation of the solvent is dissolved in methanol and the solution treated with a methanolic solution of an alkali metal hydroxide. Prel cipitated inorganic phosphate is filtered off and the solution is evaporated to dryness to give the crude alkali metal salt of the steroid phosphate which may be purified by crystallisation.

In order that the invention may be Well understood, the following examples are given by way of illustration only. The temperatures were measured in degrees centigrade.

EXAMPLE 1 Hydrocortisone ZI-sodium phosphate 21-iodo-l1B:17oc-dihydroxypregn 4 ene 3:20-dione (5.0 g.) in pure actonitrile (125 ml.) was mixed with a solution of 9.0% phosphoric acid (2.5 ml.) and triethylamine (7.5 ml.) in acetonitrile (125 ml.) and boiled under reflux for 4 hours. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue, dissolved in ethanol (20 ml.) and water ml), was passed down a column of Zeo- Karb 225 (H form) (60 g.) made up in 20% alcohol. Elution was continued with 20% alcohol (50 ml.), 50% alcohol (50 ml.) and alcohol (150 ml). The eluate was at first cloudy, but by the end of the elution it was clear and pon-as d The eluate was titrated to pH 7 with 0.972 NNaOH 63 ml.). Removal of solvent left a gum, which was boiled with methanol (400 ml.) for 20 minutes. The solid insoluble inorganic phosphate was filtered off and washed with methanol (200 ml.). The slightly cloudy filtrate was filtered again, and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residual gum dissolved readily in water (40 ml.) and on addition of acetone (600 ml.) to the solution a mixture of sodium salts of hydrocortisone 21-phosphate separated as a white solid. This was collected after 2 days, washed with acetone and dried at 100 C./ 0.1 mm./ 2 hr. to constant weight. Yield 4.45 g.,

EXAMPLE 2 Prednisolone 21-s0dium phosphate Crude 21 iodo 11,8:17u. dihydroxypregna-l:4 diene- 3:20-dione (5.0 g.) was treated as in Example 1.

The final precipitation from water (40 ml.) with acetone (500 ml.) gave a resinous precipitate, which after trituration with acetone (200 ml.) gave a pale yellow solid. After drying to constant weight (3.18 g.) at 100 C./0.1 mrn./2 hr. a mixture of sodium salts of prednisolone 21- phosphate having 273 was obtained.

EXAMPLE 3 Hydrocortisone 21 -phosphate 11B: 17 a-dihydrOXy-Z1-iodopregn-4-ene-3 :20-dione (100 mg; 1 mole) was added to a mixture of a base (5 moles) and phosphoric acid (4 moles) in a solvent (5 ml.) (either acetonitrile (AN), dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) or dimethylacetamide (DMA)) and heated at either the boiling point or C., whichever was the lower, for 4 hours.

The reaction mixture was examined by descending paper chromatography on Whatman No. 54 paper, using isopropanol-ammonia-water as the solvent system. The presence of hydrocortisone phosphate, R ca. 0.45, was shown by ultraviolet photography of the untreated paper, and by treatment with the phosphate-detecting spray of ammonium molybdate-perchloric acid-hydrochloric acid. The following Table I shows combinations of bases and solvents which resulted in formation of hydrocortisone 21- phosphate.

TABLE I Solubility of amine phosphate Type of base Base Solvent Tertiary airlines."

EXAMPLE 4 Hydrocortisone ZI-phosphate 11p: 17u-dihydroxy-2 l-iodopregn-4-ene-3 :-dione (100 mg., 1 mole) was added to a mixture of triethylamine (4.8 moles) and 90% phosphoric acid (4 moles) in various solvents (5 ml.), and heated for 4 hours. Hydrocortisone 2l-phosphate was detected as in the preceding example. Table II describes the solvents which were used and the reaction rates found.

Hydrocortz'sone ZI-sodium phosphate FROM HYDROCORTISONE 21-METHANESULPHONATE Hydrocortisone ZI-methanesulphonate (1.0 g.) was added to a previously prepared solution of 90% phosphoric acid (0.5 ml.) and triethylamine (1.5 ml.) in acetonitrile (50 ml.) and boiled under reflux for 22 hours. Iso-' lation as in Example 1 gave a mixture (0.67 g.) of by drocortisoue 21-sodium phosphate and sodium methanesulphonate.

EXAMPLE 6 Hydrocortisone phosphate ((1) FROM 21-CHLORO-11B IYa-DIHYDROXY PBEGN- 4-ENE-3 ZO-DION E The 21-chloro compound was reacted with triethylammonium phosphate in dimethylacetamide, as in Example 4, to give hydrocortisone phosphate, detected by paper chromatography.

(7]) FROM 2l-BROMO-11B l'YwDII-IYDROXYPREGN- 4-ENE -3 20-DIONE The 2l-bromo compound was reacted with triethylammonium phosphate in acetonitrile, as in Example 4, to give hydrocortisone phosphate, detected by paper chromatography.

, EXAMPLE 7 3153;170:221 trihydroxy 50c pregnane 11:20 dione 21 disodium phosphate 21 bromo 35:17 dihydroxy 5a pregnane 11:20 dione (5.0 g.) was added to a mixture of 90% phosphoric acid (2.5 ml.) and triethylamine (7.5 ml.) in

acetonitrile (250 ml.). During 15 minutes at the boiling,

point most of the bromo compound had dissolved, and

a fine crystalline precipitate had started to separate. After 8 hr. at the boiling point the mixture was cooled, and the solid (6.0 g.) filtered off and washed with a little acetonitrile. It had [eth l-34 (in 1:1 EtOH:H O), contained 6.5% of inorganic P0 and was free from bromide ion.

The solid (3.0 g.) in 1:1 aqueous alcohol was passed down a column of Zec-Karb 225 (H+ form, 20 g.), and

a the eluate titrated with sodium hydroxide to the pH of the disodium salt. The solvent was removed in vacuo, and the residue extracted with boiling methanol (150 1111.). The methanol extract was evaporated to dryness, and the residue reprecipitated from water (30 ml.) With acetone (400 ml.) as a white solid (1.99 g.), M.P. 215-218 (dec.), [a] +29.4 (c, 0.97 in water; pH 8.4). Recrystallisation of 1.0 g. from water (50 ml.) and acetone (150 ml.) gave the 2l-disodium phosphate as lustrous plates (0.76 g.) M.P. 215-218 then 265268' (with dec.), [a] +28.8 (c, 0.9 in H O). (Found: C, 49.4; H, 7.1; P, 6.6. C H O PNa H O requires C, 49.7; H, 6.75; P, 6.1%.)

EXAMPLE 8 (a) Prednisolene 21 -dis0dium phosphate Acetonitrile (50.0 ml.) containing phosphoric acid 1.0 ml.) was treated with triethylamine (3.0 ml.) and the solution added to llfi:l7a-dihydroxy-2l-iodo pregna-l:4-diene-3z20-dione (1.0 g.; powdered). The mixture was refluxed for 2.75 hours and. the solvent was then evaporated under reduced pressure to give a yellow oil. The oil was taken up in methanol (25 ml.) and titrated to pH 10.9 with sodium hydroxide in methanol (N) using a pH meter. The precipitate was filtered off and the filtrate evaporated to a guru under reduced pressure. The gum was taken up in methanol (5 ml.), filtered through filter paper and acetone ml.) was added to the filtrate. The precipitate was filtered oif, washed with acetone and dried at 100 C./1 mm. for 0.75 hour giving a pale yellow solid, prednisolone diso diurn phosphate (0.74 g.), which was completely soluble in water,

A max. 247 m (13 The infrared spectrum showed the characteristics of prednisolone disodium phosphate.

(b) Prednisolone 21-di-(cyclohexylammonium) phosphate washed with a little water and dried. They had M.P.

-205" (dec.),

x. 247 1 cm.

(0) Prednisolone 21 -rlihydr0gen phosphate Prednisolone Zl-disodium phosphate (250 mg.) in water (2 ml.) was acidified with 2 N hydrochloric acid (2 ml.) and extracted with ethyl acetate (5X8 ml.). The extract was washed with a little water and the water washed with ethyl acetate. The combined ethyl acetate extract was dried overmagnesium sulphate, when it went cloudy due to separation'of steroid. The magnesium EXAMPLE 9 Hydrocortisone 21 -cyclhexylamm0nium benzyl phosphate Sod m benzyl y r en pho a (1 a) as uverted into the acid by ion exchange, and then into the triethylammonium salt with triethylamine (1.5 ml.). This was suspended in aeetonitrile (25 ml.) and 21-iodo-1l5: 17a-dihydroxypregn-4-ene-3 :ZO-dione. (0.55 g.) was added. After 6hr. at the boiling point the solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue taken up in water and filtered. The filtrate on mixing with cyclohexylamine hydrochloride (1.5 g.) in water gave a gummy precipitate, which crystallised on heating at 100. After cooling, the crystals (0.87 g.) of M.P. 190200 (dec.), were filtered ofi, Washed with water and dried. Crystallisation from ca. 50% aqueous alcohol gave a first crop (0.17 g.) of hydrocortisone 21-cyclohexylammonium benzyl phosphate, M.P. 190 195 (dec.), [a] +99.5 (CH OH), A max. (in EtOH) 242.5 m

EXAMPLE 10 Hydrocortisone 21 -dibenzyl phosphate lEXAMPLE ll Prednisone 21-disodium phosphate 17a-hydroxy-21-iodopregna-1:4- diene 3:11:20 trione (3.0 g.) was added to a mixture of 90% phosphoric acid (10.5 g.) and triethylamine (16 ml.) in methanol (10.5 ml.) and after heating on a steam bath for 2 hours under reflux methanol (50 ml.) was added. The solution was cooled to 35, and a solution of sodium hydroxide (11 ml. of 47% w./w.) in water (7.8 ml.) and methanol (16.2 ml.) was added, keeping the temperature below 40". After two hours at room temperature the suspension was filtered and the solid washed with 9:1 methanolwater (75 ml.), and the combined filtrates evaporated in vacuo to low bulk, diluted to 30 ml. with water and titrated with sodium hydroxide to pH 8.6. Acetone (500 ml.) was added and the solvent removed in vacuo to ca. ml. and acetone (500 ml.) again added. The precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with acetone and dried to give prednisone 21-disodium phosphate (2.54 g.) as a tetrahydrate, M.P. 188-189 (dec.), [d] +132 (c, 0.8 in H O).

(Found: C, 45.9; H, 6.1; P, 5.8. C H O PNa 4 .5120 requi s .C. -0; 6%

8 EXAMPLE 12 (a) Di(hy drocortiso e 2 1-) gycl0hexylammanium phosphate 11132170: dihydroxy 21 iodopregn 4 ene 3:20- dione (10 g.), 90% phosphoric acid (1.042 g.) and trie ethylamine (2.975 ml.) were boiled under reflux for 2 hours in acetonitrile (100 ml.). More triethylamine (5.95 ml.) was added and the mixture boiled for a further 5 hours. Removal of solvent in vacuo left a brown froth, which was dissolved in ethanol ml.) and water (20 ml.) and passed down a column of Zeo- Karl; 225 (H+ form, 50 g.). An excess of aqueous N cyclohexylamine was gradually added to the eluate to keep it just alkaline. The column was eluted with aqueous alcohol until the eluate was no longer acid.

The di-(hydrocortisone 21 )cyclohexylammonium phosphate which separated from the neutralised eluate weighed 2.95 g. (31.5%) and had'MP. 215-216 (dec.), A max. (in EtOH) 240 m Elli...

Removal of solvent from the mother-liquors and extraction of the residual gum with boiling acetone left a solid, which on recrystallization from aqueous acetone gave more of the diester salt in two crops 3.14 g. (33.6%

M.P. 215-216 (dec.) and 0.256 g. (2.7%), M.P. 214- (b) Di-(hydrocortisone 2 1 -)soa' ium phosphate Di-(hydrocortisone 2-1-)cyclohexylammonium phosphate (4.0 g.) dissolved by heating in ethanol (280 ml.) and water (70 ml.) and the cooled solution passed down a column of Zeo-Karb 225 (H+ form, 40 g.). The column was eluted with more aqueous alcohol until the eluate was no longer acid, and titrated with N sodium hydroxide (4.3 ml.) to pH 6. The solvent was removed in vacuo, finally at 0.1 mm., and the residual froth dissolved in industrial methylated spirit (250 ml.), filtered and evaporated to ca. 10 ml. Addition of aeetone and evaporation gave the sodium salt in several crops (total yield M.P. ca. 225. A solution of the solid (1,6 g.) in isopropanol (250 ml.) was concentrated to 5 ml., and acetone (150 ml.) was added to the suspension. On standing for several days the originally amorphous solid had turned into needles (1.31 g.) of di-(hydrocortisone 2l-)sodium phosphate, M.P. 218-220", [a] +172 (in H O).

(Found: C, H, P, 4.1. C42H53012PN3- H O requires C, 60.3; H, 7.2; P, 3.7%), 7t max. (in H 0) 248 mp ny g s70 EXAMPLE 13 (a) D i-(p redizisolone 21-) cyclohexy lammpnium. phosphate llfitl'loa dihydroxy 21 iodopregna 1:4 diene- 3:20-di0ne (10 g.), 90% phosphoric acid (1.042 g.), and triethylamine (2.151 g.) were boiled under refi for 2 hours in acetonitrile ml.), and then a further quantity of triethylamine (5.95 ml.) was added. After a further 4 hours all the solid had dissolved, and after 5 hours the solvent was removed in vacuo and the e du ta n up i Water a d oh ($0 11-)- Th. fil ered solut on w s a ed down. a 99!- Removal of solvent from the mother-liquors left a gum, which was shaken in water (150 ml.) and the solid salt filtered. The solid was boiled with dry acetone to remove impurities, and recrystallised from aqueous acetone to give a further 2.63 g. of the bis-ester cyclohexylammonium salt in two crops. Total yield 70.4%. Recrystallisation of the alcohol-precipitated salt (0.5 g.) from ca. 1:1 aqueous acetone gave di-(prednisolone 21-)cyclohexylammonium phosphate (0.39 g). M.P. 21- 216 (dec.). [a] +123 (c, 0.45 in 1:1 EtOH; H O). (Found: C, 64.2; H, 8.1; N, 1.45; P, 3.8. C H O PN. H O C, 64.1; H, 7.85; N. 1.6; P, 3.4%), A max. (in EtOH) 242.5 mg,

(b) Di-(predlzisolone 21-)s0dium phosphate The cyclohexylammonium salt (2.5 g.) was dissolved by heating in alcohol (200 ml.) and water (50 ml.) was passed down a column of Zeo-Karb 225 (H form, 25 g.), and the column eluted with aqueous alcohol until the eluate Was no longer acid. The eluate was titrated to pH 5.7 with N/l sodium hydroxide (27.5 ml.), and the solvent removed in vacuo. The pale yellow residue failed to crystallise on addition of acetone (500 ml.) to a solution in water (5 ml.), so the solvent was again removed. The residue was taken up in boiling industrial methylated spirit (150 ml.), and on concentration to ca. 30 ml. di-(prednisolone 21-)sodium phosphate separated as needles (1.82 g., 80%), M.P. 226- 227", [a] I-l18 (c, 0.74 in H O).

(Found: C, 59.7; H, 7.1; P, 3.5. C H O PNa. 2H O requires C, 60.0; H, 6.95; P, 3.7%), A max. (in H 0 246 mu,

EXAMPLE 14 Di-(prednis0l0ne 21-).s0dium phosphate EXAMPLE 15 (a) 21-metlzanesulphonyloxy-5a-pregnane-3:20-dione Methanesulphonyl chloride (10.9 ml.) was added dropwise during minutes to a stirred solution of 21-hydroxyfiu-pregnane-3z20-dione (10.9 g.) in pyridine (100 ml.) at 0-2". After 20 minutes at 0 the solution was poured with stirring into ice and water (1500 ml.). The crystalline precipitate (13.1 g.; 97.4%), M.P. 122440, was

' collected by filtration and dried at 40 in vacuo. Re-

crystallisation from aqueous methanol then aqueous acer 1G tone gave the ZI-methanesulphonate M.P. 132-136, [m] |97.7 (c, 0.95 in CHCI (Found: C, 64.8; H, 8.0; S, 7.6. C H O S requires C, 64.3; H, 8.3; S, 7.8.)

(b) Z1-i0d0-5a-pregnane-3:20-dione A solution of sodium iodide (5.0 g.) in acetone (150 ml.) was added to a solution of ZI-methanesulphonyloxy- 5a-pregnane-3z20-dione (5.0 g.) in acetone (150 ml.) and the mixture was boiled under reflux for 15 minutes, during which time sodium methanesulphonate separated. Removal of solvent in vacuo and addition of water containing a trace of sodium thiosulphate gave the 2l-iodocompound (5.21 g., 96.5%), M.P. 140-144 (dec.).

(Found: C, 57.5; H, 7.0; I, 28.1. C H O I requires C, 57.0; H, 7.1; I, 28.6%), after drying at 0.1 mm.

(c) 21-hydr0xy-5a-pregnane-iQO-dione 21 -disodium phosphate A solution of triethylamine (7.9 ml.) and phosphoric acid (2.8 ml.) in acetonitrile ml.) was added to a suspension of 2l-iodo-5a-pregnane-3:ZO-dione (5.0 g.) in acetonitrileand the mixture boiled under reflux for 4 hours. The solvent was distilled from the solution in vacuo and the residual gum worked up to give the 21- disodium phosphate as a dihydrate (2.14 g.; 41.4%), M.P. 208-212, [oc] +82.5 (c, 0.87 in H O).

(Found: C, 51.8; H, 7.4; P, 6.7. C H O PNa 2H O requires C, 51.2; H, 7.2; P, 6.3%) after drying to constant weight at 100/0.1 mm.

EXAMPLE 16 (a) 21-methanesulphonyloxypregnane-3:20-dione 21-hydroxypregnane-3:20-dione (15.4 g.) in pyridine ml.) was treated with methanesulphonyl chloride (15.5 ml.) at 05, and after 30 minutes the solution was poured into ice and water (2 1.). The precipitated gummy product was filtered .off, dissolved in chloroform (250 ml.) and the chloroform solution was washed repeatedly with 2 N hydrochloric acid and water. Removal of solvent from the chloroform solution left a gum, which on recrystallisation from aqueous acetone (75 ml.) gave the 2l-methanesulphonate (12.85 g.; 67.6%), M.P. 144150. Further crystallisation gave the analytical sample, M.P. 148-152", [a] +96 (c, 0.94 in CHCl (Found: C, 64.8; H, 8.1; S, 7.7. C lt-1 0 5 requires C, 64.3; H, 8.3; S, 7.8%.)

(b) 2] -z'odopregnane-3 :2 O-dione 21-methanesulphonyloxypregnane-3:20-dione (5.0 g.) was treated as described for the corresponding SOL-C0111- pound in Example 15 (b), to give the 2l-iodocompound (5.21 g., 96.6%), M.P. 113-1 17, which after recrystallisation from aqueous acetone had M.P. 120-123.

(Found: C, 57.2; H, 6.8; I, 28.6. C H O I requires C, 57.0; H, 1.1; I, 28.7%.)

(c) 21-hydroxypregnane-3:20-di0ne ZI-disodium phosphate 21-iodopregnane-3:20-dione (5.0 g.) in acetonitrile (50 ml.) was added to a solution of triethylamine (8.0 ml.) and 90% phosphoric acid (2.8 ml.) in acetonitrile (50 ml.) and the mixture heated under reflux for 4 hours. The solvent was distilled in vacuo and the gummy residue worked up to give the 21-disodium phosphate as a dihydrate. (3.44 g., 66.8%), M.P. 185, [eth l-78 (c, 2.3 in H O).

(Found: C, 51.0; H, 6.95; P, 5.8. 2H O requires C, 51.2; H, 7.16; P, 6.3%.)

EXAMPLE 17 Hydrocortz'sone 21-disodium phosphate Phosphoric acid (90%; 10.0 ml.) was dissolved in isopropanol (25 ml.) and triethylamine (30 ml.) was added. A solid precipitated on cooling the solution but dissolved again on warming. Hydrocortisone iodide (5.0 g.)

We claim:

1. A process for the production of a 21-phosphate derivative of a steroid compound selected from the group consisting of pregnane and allopregnane compounds, comprising reacting, in an inert solvent having a dielectric constant of at least 15, the correspondin steroid conipound containing in the 2l-position a member selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom and a lower alkyl sulphonyloxy group with a salt of an organic base having a pKa of at least 7 in water and a phosphoric acid selected from the group consisting of orthophosphoric acid and partially esterified orthophosphoric acid.

2. The process of claim 1 in which said organic base is selected from the group consisting of isopropylarnine, diethylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-propylamine, piperidine, N-methylmorpholine, N-ethylpiperidine and triethanol amine.

3. The process of claim 1 in which said phosphoric acid is orthophosphoric acid.

4. The process of claim 1 in which said phosphoric acid is monobenzyl orthophosphoric acid ester.

5. The process of claim 1 in which said phosphoric acid is dibenzyl orthophosphoric acid ester.

6. The process of claim 1 in which said inert solvent has a dielectric constant of at least 30.

7. The process of claim 1 in which said inert solvent is selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, methanol, NzN-dimethyl formamide and dimethylsulphoxide.

8. The process of claim 1 in which the reaction is carried out at a temperature within the range of to 40 9. The process of claim 1 in which the steroid phosphate is isolated by evaporating off the solvent from the reaction medium, dissolving the residue in methanol, treating the resulting solution with methanolic alkali metal hydroxide, separating precipitated inorganic phosphate and evaporating the solution to dryness to yield the crude alkali metal salt of the steroid phosphate.

10. The process of claim 1 in which the starting steroid compound is 2l-iodo-11,8:l7a-dihydroxypregn-4-ene-3:20- dione.

11. The process of claim 1 in which the starting steroid compound is 21-iodo-11,8:17adihydroxypregna-1:4-diene 3:20-dione.

12. The process of claim 1 in which the starting steroid compound is hydrocortisone 2l-methanesulphonate.

13. The process of claim 1 in which the starting steroid compound is 2l-chloro 11,8: 171x dihydroxypregn-4-ene- 3:20-dione.

14. The process of claim 1 in which the starting steroid compound is 21-bromo 11,8:17a dihydroxypregni-ene- 3:20-dione.

15. The process of claim 1 in which the startin steroid compound is 2l-bromo-3,8:l7a-dihydroxy 5a pregnanc- 11:20-dione.

16. The process of claim 1 in which the starting steroid compound is 17a-hydroxy-2l-iodopregna-1:4-diene-3:11: 20-trione. v

17. The process of claim 1 in which the starting steroid compound is 21-methanesulphonyloXy-5a-pregnane-3:20- dione.

18. The process of claim 1 in which the starting steroid compound is 2l-iodo-5ot-pregnane-3:ZO-dione.

19. The process of claim 1 in which the starting steroid compound is 21 methanesulphonyloxypregnane 3:20 dione.

20. The process of claim 1 in which the starting steroid compound is 21-iodopregnane-3:20-dione.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,357,224 Reichstein Aug. 29, 1944 2.779,775 Sarett Jan. 29, 1957 2,789,117 Sarett Apr. 16, 1957 

1. A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A 21-PHOSPHATE DERIVATIVE OF A STEROID COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF PREGNANE AND ALLOPREGNANE COMPOUNDS, COMPRISING REACTING, IN AN INERT SOLVENT HAVING A DIELECTRIC CONSTANT OF AT LEAST 15, THE CORRESPONDING STEROID COMPOUND CONTAINING IN THE 21-POSITION A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A HALOGEN ATOM AND A LOWER ALKYL SUPHONYLOXY GROUP WITH A SALT OF AN ORGANIC BASE HAVING PKA OF AT LEAST 7 IN WATER AND A PHOSPHORIC ACID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ORTHOPHOSPHORIC ACID AND PARTIALLY ESTERIFIED ORTHOPHOSPHORIC ACID. 